BRYAN Green has used his first leaders’ speech at a Labor State Conference to tell members the party is going “back to basics” in an effort to reconnect with Tasmanians.

In his keynote address in Launceston yesterday, Mr Green said he was determined to lead the party back into ­government.

“We did receive what can only be described as a very nasty flogging at the last election,” he said.

“The community stopped listening to us because they ­believed we stopped listening to them. And it became ­impossible to communicate our achievements or articulate our plan.

“I recognise that we have an enormous amount of work to do to rebuild the trust of the Tasmanian community.”

Mr Green’s appeal to rank and file members followed ­efforts to distance the party from the Greens, with members voting on Saturday to a rule change to prevent a member of another party being ­allowed to take up a position in any future Labor cabinet.

Mr Green said the platform would be rewritten with members to have input into policies to be taken to voters in 2018.

“My mission is to ensure that the party and the community are fully engaged in the development of Labor’s policy,” he said.

But with the next state election four years away, Labor is looking to next year’s Legislative Council poll to test whether its efforts have paid off.

“The Labor Party has an opportunity here to get progressive people involved in the Upper House to make sure we hold the Liberals to account,” Mr Green said.

A major topic of discussion on the last day of the conference was the Government’s new anti-protest laws, with their heavy fines and jail time as punishment for protests that disrupt workplaces.

Mr Green said the laws were too broad and could be applied to almost any gathering.

MITCHELL IN PLEA FOR NDIS ROLLOUT

Mitchell Leedham with his mother Lyn after he addressed the State Labor Conference. Picture: Chris KiddSource: News Corp Australia

ONE of the most popular speakers at the State Labor Conference yesterday was a young man with a message about the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Mitchell Leedham, 21, of Ulverstone, urged the full rollout of the scheme.

A Young Labor member, he is in the youth cohort that was one of the first in Australia to receive the NDIS.

He has a rare genetic condition called Floating-Harbor syndrome, a disorder characterised by delayed bone age and speech development, and said funding through the insurance scheme had enhanced his ability to participate in the community.

Mr Leedham’s mum Lyn was moved to tears by her son’s moment in the spotlight. “I was really proud,” she said.

Mrs Leedham said she was concerned the Federal Government may not extend the scheme to all families that need it.